Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Happiness and Success

It's a pity that human evolution does not select for happiness.

Evolution selects for fitness. Fitness is necessary for survival. Happiness is not necessary for survival.

Those people who are most fit to survive are strong, intelligent and adaptable.

Wouldn't it be nice if strength, intelligence and adaptability lead to happiness? It may lead to success, but not happiness.

Happiness is independent of success. A person can consider himself to be successful and yet still be unhappy. It's more likely to be the other around: Happiness leads to success.

But evolution does not select for happiness. I wish human evolution did select for happiness. I wish I was happier. I wish we were all happier.

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